shop lifting

[Anonymous]

Could you have offered to pay for the body washes for her?

[Anonymous]

I used to prosecute. Hygiene items have always been BIG shoplifting-subject items. It was rare that I ever saw cases involving food. They almost always involved shampoo, body wash, toothpaste -- the more ritzy the more frequently they were stolen.

The reason is that a lot of these items are then re-sold at a discount to willing buyers to feed drug habits. The buyers don't care -- they're getting name brand items on the super cheap, and the crackheads and/or other addicts get their cash. I was really surprised when I learned of all this, because I really did figure shoplifting would mostly be steaks or other food products. I really don't think I even saw a single case involving food, even in grocery stores -- the shoplifters made beelines for the personal care aisle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to prosecute. Hygiene items have always been BIG shoplifting-subject items. It was rare that I ever saw cases involving food. They almost always involved shampoo, body wash, toothpaste -- the more ritzy the more frequently they were stolen.

The reason is that a lot of these items are then re-sold at a discount to willing buyers to feed drug habits. The buyers don't care -- they're getting name brand items on the super cheap, and the crackheads and/or other addicts get their cash. I was really surprised when I learned of all this, because I really did figure shoplifting would mostly be steaks or other food products. I really don't think I even saw a single case involving food, even in grocery stores -- the shoplifters made beelines for the personal care aisle.

By the way -- this applies to DC. No idea if it's different in MD or VA.

[Anonymous]

So what you are saying is the woman was probably stealing to feed her drug habit... Not her kids. Thanks for the clarification. Now can we all agree that the witness should have notified the store manager and that this is wrong?!?!

[Anonymous]

I don't purport to know everything. I'm not a cop. I don't know what would compel a person to steal food OR shower gel. I've learned one thing from being on my own since I was sixteen years old-when to speak up and when to shut up. Shutting up is a good idea when you don't know the whole situation and violence is not involved. I've got morals and ethics and they work for me. I don't try to impose them on people I've never met.

[Anonymous]

Back to the OP post, I probably would have done the same as you.

FWIW, When I used to ride the bus in various areas of NE DC, there would occasionally be people selling deodorant, shampoo, etc on the bus. So, I don't think you can assume that someone shoplifting personal items is doing so for personal consumption.

[Anonymous]

I suppose you could see this as an indirect way to feed DC. Steal, sell it, make money and buy food for DC with some of the money. Anyone buy this as ok?

[Anonymous]

Eeeeyah. I have a bridge I want to sell you. Can this many people be that naive? Holy shit, what a scary city, and not in a "good" way.

News flash: if they really needed the food, they would steal the food. Dumbasses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody felt comfortable punishing a woman for finding a way to feed her children.

And, since we're imagining scenarios: Maybe we saw her through a truly rough patch after which she was able to find steady employment and all of her children grew up to be scientists and Peace Corps volunteers.

Happy Thanksgiving, bitter, bitter 20:22!

BTW it was not a felony, it was petit larceny (a misdemeanor).

I'm not a lawyer but a Grand Jury for a misdemeanor? Is this possible?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if it was food or hygienic products i wouldn't care.

fancy clothes/jewelry i'd call management.

Stealing is stealing no matter the item. I saw something similar and I just told one of the clerks what I had seen and she called the manager. Shoplifting is a crime and cost merchants millions of dollars every year.

whatever. I'd ask the person if they needed me to pay for it if you're so concerned about giants' losses. the person stealing a bottle of cheap shower gel must be in real need. being sent to jail won't help.

I doubt very much it is actual need in many neighborhoods. How about kleptomania. Nevertheless, consumer prices are increased because of shoplifting. I was brought up on the premise that there are no degrees of honesty and this is what I have taught my children. If you want to teach you children that circumstances make it all right to steal then do so.

Your comment is really dumb. Prices for goods are not going up because of shoplifters! They are going up b/c of the current economic situation. The dollar is not worth shit, inflation is rising fast. Foreign countries no not want to buy the US debt anymore... That's what causing the inflation, not shoplifters. While some have an illness and could afford paying for the stuff they're stealing, many many people steal necessities that they can't afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't purport to know everything. I'm not a cop. I don't know what would compel a person to steal food OR shower gel. I've learned one thing from being on my own since I was sixteen years old-when to speak up and when to shut up. Shutting up is a good idea when you don't know the whole situation and violence is not involved. I've got morals and ethics and they work for me. I don't try to impose them on people I've never met.

I like you.

[Anonymous]

A girl in high school shoplifted all the time. One time when she was caught, she cried and told the store manager that she was poor and her parents couldn't afford to buy her deodorant and shampoo and she was stealing it because the kids made fun of her and said she stunk. They let her go without telling her parents and she continued shoplifting. She could afford the stuff and she was not teased at school. She did it because she could and was able to get away with it. She told us about it while laughing and saying how stupid the store manager was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody felt comfortable punishing a woman for finding a way to feed her children.

And, since we're imagining scenarios: Maybe we saw her through a truly rough patch after which she was able to find steady employment and all of her children grew up to be scientists and Peace Corps volunteers.

Happy Thanksgiving, bitter, bitter 20:22!

BTW it was not a felony, it was petit larceny (a misdemeanor).

I'm not a lawyer but a Grand Jury for a misdemeanor? Is this possible?

Good call. That's how we decided it. There was more than one bad check passed. It was more than 13 years ago, but I think we refused to add in the first check, so it came in under $1,000. From what I remember, too, the checks themselves didn't total a grand, which we found fishy. I think they tried to weave in the bank fees associated with bounced checks and such.